Clothes hanger



H. B. KATZ CLOTHES HANGER Feb. 3, 1959 Filed Feb. 19, 1957 INVENTOR. f/seMAA/ 5 K4 Tz 2,872,088 CLOTHES HANGER Herman B. Katz, Lynbrook, N. Y. Application February 19, 1957, Serial No. 641,154 8 Claims. (Cl. 223-91) womans skirt may be folded. Although this type of a hanger has been in use for many years it has the disadvantage that the trousers or skirt hanging over the crosspiece very often slide off the crosspiece onto the floor. This is due to the fact that there is no positive means for holding the clothing to the crosspiece and people using the hangeroften do not fold the clothing over thecrosspiece in such a way that the weight of the garment i equal on both sides.

A complete solution to the problem requires a clamping device that will firmly hold trousers, or other similar garments, from slipping off the bar due to an unequal weight distribution. It also requires that the clamping means be easy and convenient to operate and inexpensive to manufacture. The clamping means must be easy and convenient to operate for most people will not use a clamping device that cannot be conveniently operated. It must also be inexpensive to manufacture in order to complete with the standard hanger which is a relatively low-priced item. Despite many attempts, these objectives have not been generally achieved in the prior art, c0nsequently,-the standard type of hanger is still principally in use today notwithstanding its inherent disadvantages.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a clothes hanger which will overcome the aforementioned disadvantages. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a hanger with clamping means that will firmly clamp clothing to the hanger and properly hold them no matter how heavy they may be. Another object of the invention is to construct such clamping means so as to be easy and convenient to operate and yet inexpensive to manufacture. Still another object of the invention is to provide a clothes hanger in which the clothing may be clamped to the hanger in either a folded or unfolded condition.

It will be understood that the foregoing general de-' scription and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Briefly and in general, the applicants invention comprises clamping means for a clothes hanger having three principal portions; a portion securing the clamping member to the crosspiece of a hanger, a portion generally corresponding to the crosspiece for engagement therewith, and an intermediate portion having an inclined, or sloping surface, to serve as a cam face to effect disengagement of the clamping member from the crosspiece. Additionally, the clamping means are provided with movable lever means adapted to engage the sloping surface when pushed by the user so as to bear against said surface to lift the engaging portion of the clamping means away from the crosspiece. Spring tension, or any other suitable force, is applied to the clamping means to constantly urge said means into engagement with the crosspiece and the movable lever means are positioned Patented Feb. 3, 1959 the clamping means may lie entirely on one side of the crosspiece the curved intermediate portion renders it appropriate to secure one end to one side of the crosspiece and to place the engaging portion on the opposite side thereof. It will be understood that the invention may be utilized in connection with a combination clothes hanger for both coat and trousers or in connection with a clothes hanger for trousers only.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation-showing a hanger constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the crosspiece shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an undeveloped blank from which each clamping member is formed; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view partly in section showing the end of the blank after it has been bent to its final shape.

Referring now to the drawings for a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the applicants in vention there is shown in Fig. l a hanger 10 comprising a pair of opposite downwardly sloping arm-like members 12 adapted to fit within the shoulder portion of a coat or other similar article of clothing. A hook 14 is secured at the upper central portion of the hanger 10 by means of which the hanger may be hung on a closet rod. A

, crosspiece 16 is provided extending substantially between the lower ends 18 of each of the downwardly sloping arms 12, said crosspiece 16 being fastened to each arm 12 by means of the rods 20 so as to be disposed in a substantially horizontal position. In the preferred form shown the crosspiece 16 does not extend completely between the arms 12 but stops just short of each arm so as to provide a free end 22 at each end of the crosspiece 16. The shape of the crosspiece is preferably rectangular, the greatest dimension being the depth of the crosspiece from top to bottom. It is to be understood, however, that the crosspiece could extend entirely between the downwardly sloping arms or could be round orany other particular configuration desired.

The clamping members 24 are preferably made from I metal stock so as to be capable of being formed by bending operations performed upon a flat blank. However, any other suitable material other than metal may also be used provided the shape of the clamping members is in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

Each of the clamping members 24 is mounted on the crosspiece 16 adjacent the end portions 22 thereof and each of the members has a holding portion corresponding to the crosspiece for engagement therewith. In the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings this holding portion is the flat portion 26 having a surface running substantially in the same plane as the side surface 28 on the crosspiece 16 so that engagement of this portion with the crosspiece is as complete as possible. To protect'the garment, portion 26 and the surface 28 are provided with felt pads 27. Additionally, each clamping member 24 is provided with a portion 30, by means of which, the member 24 is secured to the crosspiece 16 and, intermediate of this, is a second portion 32 having a sloping surface 34 thereon. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the portion 30 secured to the crosspiece comprises a pair of wings or extensions 36 which are bent at two places 38, 40 so as to form brackets that frictionally engage the crosspiece 16. Preferably, the intermediate portion 32 of each clamping member 24 is curved as shown in the drawings, the curve terminating in a sloping surface 34 which joins the intermediate portion 32 to the portion 26 of the clamping member that engages the crosspiece "16. While the portion 30 secured to the crosspiece may be on a surface opposite to that of the-engaging portion, as shown in the drawings, it may also be possible that the securing portion be on the same side as the engaging portion. It is important that the central portion 32 be spaced from the crosspiece 16 so as to provide a sloping or curved-surface 34 between the engaging and securing portions 26 and 30, respectively, of the clamping members.

Additionally, the bracket portion 30 of each clamping member 24 is provided with a'curved end portion 42 adapted to fit around a movable wire member or lever arm 44 and to form a pivot point therefor. The wire member 44 preferably forms a closed member defining a narrow portion 46 with a longer extension 48. The narrow portion 46 of the wire member 44 has one side 47 mounted within the curved end 42 of the bracket portion 30 and an opposite side 45 spaced so as to fall between the crosspiece 16 and the curved central portion 32 of the clamping member. The sides 47, 45 are .sufiiciently spaced from each other to permit the outer side 45 of the wire member to engage the underside of the sloping surface 34 whenever the wire is moved in a direction toward the flat portion 26 of the member. Engagement of the wire 45 with the sloping surface 34 and further movement thereof acts as a cam against the sloping surface and lifts the engaging portion 26 from engagement with the crosspiece 16. This position is shown at the left in Fig. 2. Opening move ment of the wire cam member 44 is limited by stops 50 formed by bending over the inner edges of the engaging portion 26 of the clamping member 24. The extension 48 on the wire member serves as a thumb lever against which the person using the hanger may press to quickly open the clamping means.

The distance between the supporting rods 20 is purposely made sufficient so as to permit the garment to be clamped to tne hanger either in a folded or unfolded condition. Due to the fact that the clamping members 24 are adjacent the ends of the crosspiece it is possible to hang a pair of mens trousers by their cuffs without encountering the additional thickness of the middle seam. It will also be appreciated that due to the simplicity of the clamping device it may be manufactured very in expensively since each clamping member can be formed by a simple blanking operation. In the course of the blanking operation each clamping member 24 is given a set which constantly urges the clamping member in a direction toward engagement with the crosspiece. Ribs or other strengthening means may be formed in the clamping members to add strength and prevent misalignment during operation.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

l. A clothes hanger comprising opposite downwardly extending arms adapted to be inserted into the shouldcr portion of a coat or other like garment, a crosspiece secured to the arms, a pair of clamping members adjacent the end portions of the crosspiece, each of said members having a holding portion corresponding to the crosspiece for engagement therewith, a portion securing the member to the crosspiece, and a sloping portion intermediate the other portions, said clamping members being stressed so as to constantly urge the holding portion into engagement with the crosspiece, and movable members interposed between the crosspiece and the sloping portions of the clamping members, each of said movable members being engageable with the sloping portions of the clamping members to withdraw the holding portions of the clamping members from engagement with the crosspiece.

2. A clothes hanger comprising a substantially horizontal member, clamping means secured at each end of the horizontal member, said means having a holding surface corresponding to and constantly urged toward the horizontal member for engagement therewith, a sloping surface joined to the first-mentioned surface and movable cam means for engagement with said sloping surface to disengage said surface from the horizontal member.

3. A clothes hanger as set forth in claim 2 in which the movable cam means comprise pivotable lever arms positioned so as to engage the sloping surface.

4. Clamping means for a clothes hanger comprising an integral unit adapted to be fitted onto the hanger and having a holding surface corresponding to and constantly urged toward engagement-with the hanger, a sloping surface joined to the holding surface and a lever arm pivotably secured to the unit having an arc of movement intercepting the sloping surface.

5. Clamping means as set'forth in claim 4 in which a stop is provided on the sloping surface to prevent the lever arm from slipping off the sloping surface after engagement therewith.

6. Clamping means as set forth in claim 5 in which the pivotable lever arm is provided with an extension extending outwardly beyond the point of contact between said lever arm and the unit so as to facilitate the manual opening of the unit.

7. A clothes hanger comprising a pair of opposite downwardly extending arms adapted to be inserted into the shoulder portion of a coat or other like garment, a crosspiece secured torthe arms and extending substantially therebetween but having a pair of free ends, a pair of clamping members secured to each of the free ends of the crosspiece, each of said members having a holding portion corresponding to the crosspiece for engagement therewith, a portion securing the member to the cross-' piece and a curved intermediate portion between said first and second mentioned portions extending outwardly of the free end of the crosspiece to form a space therebetween and having a sloping surface joining the curved portion to the holding portion, said clamping members being stressed so as to constantly urge the holding portion into engagement with the crosspiece, and pivotable lever arms on the free ends of the crosspiece having a camming portion interposed between the curved portion of the clamping member and the free end of the crosspiece and an extension extending beyond the curved portion of the clamping member whereby force may be manually applied to the lever arm to move the earning portion into contact with the sloping surface on the curved portion of the clamping member and thereby disengage the holding portion of the clamping member from the crosspiece.

8. A clothes hanger as set forth in claim 7 in which each clamping member is formed from a flat piece of stock and then bent into a securing portion, a curved intermediate portion and a portion corresponding to the cross piece and for engagement therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

